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Lancaster Township vs Harlem Township

Next-door neighbors in Stephenson County. The biggest differences: trails (9× in Harlem Township) and average commute (13 min in Lancaster Township).

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Lancaster Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsStephenson County · 1,296 people

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Harlem Township, ILAn outdoors townStephenson County · 1,993 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

Lancaster TownshipOne of the healthiest towns

Health73% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Lancaster Township →

Harlem TownshipAn outdoors town

Outdoors#42 most trails in IL7.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves Health74% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Harlem Township →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Harlem Township has more miles of trail

Harlem Township 7.2 miLancaster Township 0.8 mi

Average commute13 min

Lancaster Township has the shorter commute

Harlem Township 31 minLancaster Township 18 min

Jobs per worker2.4×

Lancaster Township is more of a job hub

Lancaster Township 0.79Harlem Township 0.33

Property tax bill+33%

Tax bills are bigger in Harlem Township

Harlem Township $4,432Lancaster Township $3,340

Typical home built17 yrs

Lancaster Township’s homes are older

Harlem Township 1974Lancaster Township 1957

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $190 more a month in Harlem Township

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Lancaster Township$1,090/mo

Typical home $154K (Census) · tax rate 2.17% · Housing →

Harlem Township$1,280/mo

Typical home $173K (Census) · tax rate 2.56% · or rent about $891/mo · Housing →

The difference: $190 a month, about $2,300 a year, between Harlem Township and Lancaster Township.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Where they are

Lancaster Township and Harlem Township share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

Lancaster TownshipHarlem Township

Lancaster Township ↔ Harlem Township6.8 miles apart · They share a border · Same county

Who commutes between them

15 Harlem Township residents work in Lancaster Township (1.5% of its workers)

Work & commute in Harlem Township →

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Illinois ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Health

CLancaster TownshipHealthier than 27% of U.S. towns CHarlem TownshipHealthier than 26% of U.S. towns

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

Lancaster TownshipHarlem Township

Snow a year35″35″

January low11°F 11°F

July high82°F 82°F

Growing season (days)169d 169d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)27th 36th

Outdoors & history

Lancaster TownshipHarlem Township

Trails1 mi 7 mi

Conserved land0.8%1.4%

National Register places—2

Community

Lancaster TownshipHarlem Township

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Illinois average

Lancaster TownshipHarlem Township

People

Population 1,296Lowest 1,993Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -12.4%Lowest -11.5%Highest

Median age 56±4.4Lowest 44% above IL 57.8±2.6Highest 48% above IL

Harlem Township and Lancaster Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 5.2%±3.8Lowest IL: 21.8% 11.4%±3Highest IL: 21.8%

Harlem Township and Lancaster Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 28.4%±6.7Lowest IL: 17% 34.9%±6.4Highest IL: 17%

Harlem Township and Lancaster Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.6%Lowest IL: 37.8% 17%Highest IL: 37.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.6%±0.7Lowest IL: 6.3% 1.7%±1.8Highest IL: 6.3%

Harlem Township and Lancaster Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $91,250±$14kLowest 9% above IL $95,000±$17kHighest 14% above IL

Harlem Township and Lancaster Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $154,100±$18kLowest 41% below IL $173,000±$17kHighest 34% below IL

Harlem Township and Lancaster Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly — $891±$752 30% below IL

Property taxmedian, yearly $3,340Lowest 37% below IL $4,432Highest 16% below IL

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 100%±100Highest IL: 47.9% 0%±61.9Lowest IL: 47.9%

Lancaster Township and Harlem Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 6.6%Highest IL: 11.8% 6.1%Lowest IL: 11.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 98.4%Highest IL: 67.1% 95.3%Lowest IL: 67.1%

Typical home builtmedian year 1957Lowest 14 yrs older than IL 1974Highest 3 yrs newer than IL

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 36% below IL 31 minHighest 13% above IL

Work from home 6.9%±3.5Highest IL: 15.9% 6.7%±3.7Lowest IL: 15.9%

Lancaster Township and Harlem Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 2.3%Highest 1.9%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 23.3 miHighest 13.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.79Highest 0.33Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Freeport (26%)Freeport (35%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Harlem Township2% work in Lancaster Township

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.8%Lowest 1.4%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.8 miLowest 7.2 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.2 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 3Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.1Lowest 3.7Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#241 of 384 in IL

Illinois average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Lancaster Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lancaster Township’s Town Square.

Harlem Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Harlem Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Lancaster Township

Freeport23,505 people · $92K homes

Freeport Township23,505 people · $92K homes

Silver Creek Township462 people · $186K homes

Dakota Township928 people · $156K homes

Towns like Lancaster Township

Stevenson Township1,036 people · $135K homes

Cotton Hill Township1,099 people · $283K homes

Newtown Township804 people · $216K homes

Pine Rock Township696 people · $192K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.